Covenant: Exodus

Chapter 18

Noahim turned and ran from the library, flying onto the main deck of the Jaguar he searched with his mind for the rest of the Mul'Ki. Brothers, the time has come, get the people to safety inside the boats. Get whatever provisions you can, it will begin soon, he spoke directly into their minds. He ran to the edge of the Jaguar and looked out over the site of the other three boats. Even though none of the other Mul'Ki spoke back to him, in his mind, he could see that his message had been received, people had begun to run throughout the site, gathering what they could. Everywhere he looked, men and women helped gather the children and animals and load them into the boats.

Noahim smiled a weary smile, he knew that many in Atla would meet their end soon, and it saddened him, but they had made their choice. He had done his best to convince them, but Jakon had proven a persuasive enemy. Jakon had convinced the people that Noah was a fool that believed in everything the ancients said, because if he did not believe the old teachings, then he had to admit that he was nothing special. Jakon told them that they would all build an empire of great power, where they would each live lives of luxury and ease, but the more he heard word of Jakon's new teachings, the more he became convinced that Jakon only valued the Mul'Ki. He believed that anyone without the gift was not of his concern. He sought to create a world where those that could command their Ari were served by those who could not.

Noah still could not figure out how so many of the citizens of Atla had been taken by these lies, but he could no longer spend time worrying about those that had made their choice. Although many would die, Noahim took solace in the fact that Atla would not die with them, the people that were coming with Noah would preserve what Atla truly was. Just as the ancients had, they would find a new home, they would rebuild, they would pass on the knowledge that the Atlans had spent millennia acquiring, and Noah would find a way to prevent this from ever happening again. Of this, he was sure.

As he looked out over the site, an almost imperceptible tremor rose through the planks of the ship. All at once, the forest erupted into a deafening cacophony of sound as birds by the thousands took flight. The skies became black as the birds all flew out to sea, leaving Atla behind. Watching the birds fly away, Noahim knew that it could not be a good sign. Just then, he saw Karok bounding toward him, the hair raised along his neck. Karok came skidding to a stop at his side as Noah looked around at everyone working on the boats and the ground. No one else had seemed to notice anything and they all continued to finish the work they were doing. Did I imagine it? Noahim thought to himself, and in answer, Karok let loose a low, quiet growl. It had not been imagined, it was beginning right now. Noah looked out and realized that he had to get down to the people, get them to hurry, get them inside these boats. He began to run towards the side of the giant vessel, turning his head to look at the men working all along the boat he shouted, "There is no more time, put down your tools, get to safety inside the boat, help anyone that needs to be helped, tell everyone you see, it is starting! And pray to Ratam that we are ready!"

The men all stared at him, stunned, as he flew across the deck of the ark, Karok pounding beside him. As Karok veered towards the stairs that led to the outside, Noah continued to run full speed towards the ship's edge. "Noah," shouted an older man that had been working on the rigging, "Stop!" The man had begun to run towards Noah with his arms outstretched, as though he intended to grab him. Noah saw the man running towards him and simply held out a hand towards him, the man was knocked from his feet and slid backward on the deck, coming to rest in a heap of sail fabric.

Looking over his shoulder at the bewildered man, Noahim smiled and without saying a word launched himself over the railing of the deck. Karok let loose a roar that shook the ground as he continued his full speed descent towards the Ark's entrance. Noah couldn't believe the speed that the ground was hurtling towards him at, he had never jumped from anywhere near this high, the deck was well over a hundred feet above the ground, although he knew that he would be safe. Even so, the sight of the ground rushing to meet him in a crushing embrace was an unsettling one. About five yards above the ground he held his hands out to his sides and lifted his palms, uttering a word of enchantment and his descent ceased almost instantly. He alighted safely on the ground without missing a step and continued to run towards the people shouting, "Everyone get to the safety of the Arks, it begins!"